BUFFALO, N.Y. — 2 On Your Side received a tip from a viewer asking us to look into a trend in Western New York called "Thruway Swimming."
Many residents said they are tired of the dangerous trend, which puts their lives in danger. Thruway Swimming is when cars drive recklessly on highways, causing near misses or weaving through lanes. Residents have the same reaction every time they see it.
"Oh my God! That's ... OH MY GOD!" Marta Revera screamed. "I see this all the time where I live. They almost ran me over one time."
Cynthia Stocks added, "That is so unnecessary because why are you in a rush? Where are you going?"
There are also instances on the 33. The City of Buffalo says it's aggressive driving at best, which they're way too familiar with.
"If you endanger someone's life, if you put their life at risk of injury or death. You can be charged criminally," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, who added that he's encouraging officers to perform traffic stops whenever they see it.
"We've had kids who died on the highway. A year and a half ago, kids were lying on the 33. Three of them died on the 33. One more died at the hospital," Gramaglia said.
It's mainly teenagers a part of it, but adults are starting to partake.
"Younger kids can be dumb at times. You're not thinking clearly," Gramaglia said. "What I do want these kids to think about is seeing their friends, or possibly their parents, thinking of them dead on the highway.
"What happens when they're standing in a courtroom not facing a reckless endangerment charge or reckless driving charge, but you're facing a murder charge, or you're facing a manslaughter charge."